May 28, Saturday. (Route map at the end of the post.)

A good chat over breakfast with our landlady in Holywell sent us off for a loop drive along secondary roads that followed a meandering route starting with a trio of tiny, perfect towns.

First stop: Northup and its tiny perfect church……surrounded by a graveyard filled with outstanding tombstones.In late May Primroses, Irises and Grape Hyacinths add colour.A charming wood bench under a thriving California lilac just outside the Northup Church.
As we were leaving Northup we spotted the Red Lion Pub. As our loop reconnected at Northup near the end of drive we decided that it might be a good stop for dinner before heading back to our B&B.Next up Mold – what a name for a town! Anyway it was Market Day and there was a tourist info so we stocked up on brochures.

Cool Welsh hats for sale in the Mold Market.
Mmmm, these pies caught our attention but it was too early for lunch, especially after our big B&B breakfast.Tony Doyle’s butcher stall on Market Day in Mold.The old church in Mold had what we thought to be a unique tiled floor, although later we saw that almost all Welsh churches had flooring like this. The vestuary in the old church is dimly lit by a single stained-glass window. And ooh, another potential pub dinner stop!Next stop: Ruthin and another perfect little church with fun details such as this elaborate wood ceiling.Wrought iron on the doors entering into the church.A brass figure marking a passing.The manual pipe organ of St Peters Collegiate Church in Ruthin was originally built in 1898. Ruthin also a craft centre with some interesting pieces.

Hand-blown glass vases in a craft shop.Unique acrylic jewelry by Wendy Sarah Pacy. Bird man.The craft centre was where I had my first taste of Welsh cakes, a perfect light snack on a road trip.And then there was another perfect pub…A gilded wrought iron gate on our way out of Ruthin. The Lonely Planet map showing the loop drive we made on our 2nd day in Wales.

• From there we followed a really snaky road on our way to Llangollan with its green woodlands (and hidden church), and Horseshoe Falls (and rafters galore). This was followed by the Pontcysylite Aqueduct, the highest aqueduct in Wales, with canal boats transversing from its height.
• More about our 2016 road trip through Wales.
• More on the Friendly Friday Challenge: Road Trip.